Sedan vs. Coupe - caged convenience

[jalopi]

Sup bros,

So the title may be a little misleading... I currently have a sedan, but I'm in the process of fabbing up a widebody for the rear and it seems like it's gonna be a real bitch to make something that'd work with the rear doors. Probably gonna end up tacking the rear doors shut and fabbing the quarters to go over them.

I'm also planning on doing a cage + fixed back seats in the future, so I realize blocking off the rear doors may make getting things in the back difficult... but seriously though, how much of a pain is it? Do, say, recaro/corbeau slider mounts go up far enough to get suff in/out of the back? Or do you guys cut an access hole where the back seats used to be (figure that'd be OK since the rest of the car just got reinforced with the cage)? Thoughts please?

[RoccoB517]

I can't get anything big in the back seat area with my cage (wheels/tires), and that is with no passenger seat. I just don't use that space for anything, really.

[UNHCLL]

Sup bros,

So the title may be a little misleading... I currently have a sedan, but I'm in the process of fabbing up a widebody for the rear and it seems like it's gonna be a real bitch to make something that'd work with the rear doors. Probably gonna end up tacking the rear doors shut and fabbing the quarters to go over them.

I'm also planning on doing a cage + fixed back seats in the future, so I realize blocking off the rear doors may make getting things in the back difficult... but seriously though, how much of a pain is it? Do, say, recaro/corbeau slider mounts go up far enough to get suff in/out of the back? Or do you guys cut an access hole where the back seats used to be (figure that'd be OK since the rest of the car just got reinforced with the cage)? Thoughts please?

Without knowing what you're building the car for... you may want to look at rule set and the requirement to have a hard wall between trunk and cabin, even if fabricated out of aluminum. So you wouldn't have an easy "pass-through" as it usually must be fully sealed off.

-Chris

[jalopi]

This is mainly a drift car, though I'd like to start doing a few track dayze or HPDE events here and there, you know... something that doesn't murder rear tires after a few runs. Also, convincing someone to tow your car / bring a support vehicle full of tools is a tough sell when you tell them they can't ride along since you don't have a passenger seat... that would be the easiest option, though I don't think it'd work.

For sanctions that restrict a pass through between the passenger compartment and the trunk.... would a piece of plate made to "flip down" work? You know, in the manner that most cars today can do with the rear seats? Secured with quick release fasteners or something? I really don't feel like fabricating a two-piece wide quarter and it'd probably come out looking like shit...

[matthugie]

I have a coupe and it's pretty difficult to use the rear seat area for transporting things to and from the track. Part of it is that I have a surge tank setup that runs fuel lines behind the drivers seat in the cabin (nylon and steel braided and secured of course), but fitting things between the parts of the roll bar to get to and from the track is a pain. I'm not sure if 4 doors really allow much more room with the bars connecting down to the rear wheel wells, but the 2 doors is a PITA.

[djjerme]

Bullshit..

Fully caged PRO3 car, that I often drive to events. 2 door coupe and I carry EVERYTHING in the car. usually I will have 2-3 spare tires/rims in the back, along with what ever else I can stuff in there. Spares in the trunk with one tire in the wheel well and the jack and jack stands. Tool boxes in the passenger seat area.

Those who bitch about not being able to get stuff back there ain't trying hard enough, or suck at Tetris. Grow a pair, cage your whip and just drive that bitch to the track with all your wares stuffed in it..

If you don't believe me, I will snap a pic of my car packed up just before I leave for the next race I run in August.

[matthugie]

I have a full set of wheels + all spares, tarp, tools, etc. 2-3 spare wheels is fine, the 4th is that kills the rest of the front, especially having a passenger seat and data acquisition underneath it. Room gets scarce.

[djjerme]

Here's my standard pack out when I drive to the track (all fits in the car.)

full set of rains (on the car and driving to the track)
full set of dry's (2 in the trunk, 2 in the rear seat area
tote w/ spares in the trunk (full set of brake pads, rotors, extra ECU's full ignition set, full set of hoses, extra wheel bearings, throttle cable, AFM's..)
race jack and 4 jack stands in trunk
10x20 portable garage in rear seat area with tires (not a popup, the big mother!)
full race suit and helmet in rear seat area between bars and body
Stacked beta box in passenger seat area (with extra ballast)
case for GoPro's and data in passenger area
case for radios in trunk
2 5 gallon fuel jugs in passenger area
oil catch pan and storage container in trunk
tote with chemicals and other spares/needs in trunk

Unless you are bringing a full driveline, then you can make it fit. I have done all the above along with a complete 19" mountain bike as well.

[jalopi]

Yeah but it looks like you don't have a passenger seat in your car, which would explain why you find it so easy to get everything in/out - I'd bet it is too.

Issue is though, not having a passenger seat isn't really an option for me, otherwise this'd be a very easy decision to make.

Regardless though.... I think I figured out what I want to do. Just gonna bite the bullet and tack the rear doors shut. Of course, I'll hold off until the cage is installed and I'll probably replace the window regulators/motors as a just-in-case-i-gotta-get-in-the-back-fast kinda thing.


So on a different note, anyone got a sedan with nascar-style door bars? Only way I could see it working is if the B pillar got notched where the bars run

[RoccoB517]

Bullshit..

Fully caged PRO3 car, that I often drive to events. 2 door coupe and I carry EVERYTHING in the car. usually I will have 2-3 spare tires/rims in the back, along with what ever else I can stuff in there. Spares in the trunk with one tire in the wheel well and the jack and jack stands. Tool boxes in the passenger seat area.

Those who bitch about not being able to get stuff back there ain't trying hard enough, or suck at Tetris. Grow a pair, cage your whip and just drive that bitch to the track with all your wares stuffed in it..

If you don't believe me, I will snap a pic of my car packed up just before I leave for the next race I run in August.

I don't have a passenger seat and there is NO WAY I can fit a 15x8 with 225/45 on it through the space I have between bars in the cage. Hell, I can even barely get back there. It's awesome that you can, and if you don't mind I'd be psyched for a picture of the angle you use to put a wheel in the back seat. That would help me a lot. I even tried letting most of the air out of the tires to make it work. No dice.

[djjerme]

I will get you a shot when I pack it up next month..

I actually run 225/50/15 tire. And you have to go above the bar.

There is actually quite a few PRO3 cars based on 4-door sedans. And many of them run NASCAR bars. A few that used to drive to the track as well, and said the 4-door is indeed easier to load.

That being said, instead of tacking them, perhaps you can just pin the doors closed. The other thing having a rear set of doors helps with it cleaning the rear window (if you still have any of the factory glass in) and getting at the stock fuel tank/sending unit.

One thing I would specify when you get your cage done, is to see if the cage builder can mount the rear X bars across the bottom (rather then in the same plan as the rear down tubes. My cage builder suggested it to me because it helps keep weight low, and actually makes the downtubes stronger (can't collapse in.) Plus, this will greatly increase your ability to put stuff back there. I can snap a pick of how mine are done if you want.

[jalopi]

Pics would be greatly appreciated.

What do you mean by pin the rear doors though? Something similar to a hood pin?

[SmokeE30]

Look at cages in drift cars that hold rear passengers like drift taxis, after looking at one I like the idea of keeping the rear seat area functional at the same time, granted they are 4door but I honesty wouldn't mind making my rear passengers get in and out of a set of pop outs swung open all the way lol

[IronFreak]

Look at my thread and Kingston thread. good examples of cages in coupes and sedans. then ask me questions.

Nascar bars are lame and add weight.

[Jb325is]

If you're racing wheel to wheel nascar bars or some variation are absolutely a must. What are you doing with the car?